Submarine life-boat.



CLN3 LEWARK.

SUBMARiNE LIFE BOAT.

APPUCATION man )uw 9.19m.

' @Hoz neg 5 atend Mar. 19, 3918,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S'. CLA'IR LEWARK.

SUBMARiNE LIFE BOAT,

APPUCATION FILED )ULY 9.1911.

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ST. @LALR MWA?! SUBMAMNE UFE BOAT.

APPLsc-ATION m50 luLY 9.1917A lll ` specifically S'l. CLAIR LE'WARK, 03?' MAT/IIE, NORTH CAROLINA,

SUBMARIHE LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 199 19118;,

Application led July 9, 1917. Serial No. 179,395.

To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that l, ST. CLAIR LEWARK, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Mamie, in the county ot' Currituck and State ot' North Carolina, have invented a nen7 and useful improvement in Submarine Life-Boats,- oi which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to submarine lifeboats and more particularly to a surface boat attached to a submarine or underwater boat in such manner that it may be readily and quickly detached, and of such construction that when detached -it will promptly rise to the surface of the Water, the lifeboat having means to prevent the saine from sinking and which tend to maintain the saine in upright position in use, the objects of mypresent improvements having to do with the construction of the lifeboat here presented and the connections between the saine and a submarine or undersea boat whereby the lifeboat may, as above stated, be quickly detached for independent use.

These various objects and the advantages resulting from niy invention will be apparent in the course of the following de scription in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein- ,v

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through my improved lifeboat illustrating the same in operative connection with a submarine,

1T ig. .2 is an enlarged sectional vien7 'through certain of the connected portions of the lifeboat and submarine,

Fig. 3 is a sectional vien7 similar to Fin., 1 with the lifeboat 1n detached relation to the submarine, as the former starts to rise .to the surface,

Fig. el is :t vertical cross section taken substantially on line 1--4 of 1,

5 is an enlarged fragmentary section, being a nportion of a submarine eswseen in Fig. 3, i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of au the lifeboat toybe hereinatter' portion of referred to. Figs. and 8 are respectively a plan View and a longitudinal section oi? the lifeboat detached and upon the surface of the Water. 'Referring now to these figures generally,

sternly invention contemplates tbe )provision ft a lifeboatV 10 in connection with a submarine, a portion ot' the upper or deck plate 11 of which is seen in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. The lifeboat, of which there may be one or more to each submarine, may be secured upon the latter at any desired point upon the deck thereof, the particular location being unimportant in so far as the present invention is concerned. To effect the normal connection ot' the lifeboat, however, it is provided with a centrally located projecting` cylinder 12 disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ot the boat, and provided with an inwardly extending` horizontal flange 13 adjacent its inner end, the

4flange 13 terminating in. an annular portion 1l spaced inwardly beyond and parallel with the cylinder 12 and surrounding an opening between the open inner and outer ends of the cylinder.

rlChe cylinder 12 also has at its inner end a spaced surrounding annulus 15, the edge of which is flared at 16 and between which and. the inner end of the cylinder is disposed a packing' ring 17 to receive the outer open end ot' a cylinder 1S extending from the deelt 11 of the submarine and into which. the cylinder 12 telescopes in spaced relation. The cylinder 1S of the submarine has a spaced inner annular rib v19 between which and the inner end of the cylinder is disposed a packing ring 20 receiving thereagainst the free end of the cylinder 12 in the same man ner in which the free end of the submarine cylinder 18 is received by the packing strip 17. In this way, takinginto consideration the rigid connection of the lifeboat upon the submarine as 4presently described, the entrance of water Within the telescoping cylinders 12 and 18 in connected position as seen best in Fig. 2 is obviously prevented.

The submarine ycylinder 18 has an in- Wardly projecting horizontal flange 21 at .lifeboat will be understood as applying peripheral edge of the hatch or cover 23 and are provided with bearings through which are threaded elampin screws 27 bearing against the adjacent ace of thehatch or cover adjacent its peripheral edge to press the latter toward the rib 14, the opposite face of the hatch or cover having a peripheral flange 28 and a similar flange 29 spaced inwardly beyond the peripheral flange 28 for the reception of a packingl ring 30 which receives the outer edge of the rib 14.

The inner annular flange 29 of the hatch or cover has a horizontally projecting annular ledge 31 paralleling the body of the cover or hatch to provide for engagement by the flanged ends 32 of clamping screws 33 threaded through the extremities of angular clamping bolts 34, the opposite threaded ends-of which are swiveled in angular brackets 35 of the flange 13 at the opposite sides of the latter from the lugs 25, vbefore mentioned, and in which the said bolts 34 are shiftable into and out of operative position, the same as the angular bolts 2G before described.

In this manner each of the hatches or covers 23 and 24 may be securely held in closed position against the respective ribs 14 and 22 from each side, that is, eitherlfrom the inside or the outside of both the lifeboat and the submarine.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig.- 2 it is obvious that the occupants of the submarine by 'releasing the clamping screws 27 of the cover 24 may remove the latter and by releasing the clamping screw 27 of the cover 23 may nd their way into the lifeboat 10, the cover 24 of the submarine being first closed by means of the clamping screws 33 and the cover`23 of the lifeboat being similarly closed by the clamping screws 33 thereof before the securing means of the lifeboat are released.

1t is o bvious from the foregoing that the telescoping cylinders 12 and 18 of the lifeboat. and submarine respectively extend sufficiently beyond their respective parts for coperation in the manner previously described and that so far as the present invention is concerned they may be either secured y to their respective parts, as shown, or may be formed in connection therewith and as an integral part thereof in the first instance, one of the advantages of my invention being its adaptability to submarines already in use as well as those in course of construe `tion.

1n the case of the lifeboat 10 its cylinder the air bulkheads with rigid u internally threaded sockets'39 for outwardly'projecting Screw shafts 40 having hand wheels 41 at ltheir. inner ends located in the hold space of the lifeboat between the deck 36 and the sides and bottom of the boat in which the occupants are housed after leaving the submarine in the manner previously described and between the time of the detachment of the lifeboat from the submarine and its arrival upon the surface of the water due to its buoyancy.

The submarine is similarly provided with threaded sockets 42 for the reception of the outer endsof the screw shafts 40 of the life boat and with threaded bearings 43 for outwardly projecting screw shafts 44 having hand wheels 45 at their inner ends within the submarine. The use of the screw shafts 44of the submarine is not essential and is merely supplemental to the screw shafts 40 of the lifeboat, the latter of which must be used in view of the fact that the screw shafts f 44 of the submarine would be required to be released before the occupants proceeded into the lifeboat, whereas it is necessary that the lifeboat remain Aconnected to the submainc until the occupants are within the hold f the lifeboat and the hatches or, covers 23 secured by the clamping screws 33 as previously described.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 it wily, be noted that in addition. to its end air bulkheads 37. the lifeboat 10 has end compartments 46 and 47 for provisions and fresh water and that it has spaced rectangular casings 48 extended transversely acrossthe external surface of itsdeck 11 forming ad ditional air chambers in connection with lon-LA gitudinal air casings 49 along the sides 50 projecting beyond the deck plate 1l, the-7 transversely disposed casings 48 and the lon# gitudinal casings 49 forming seats fonthe occupants of theI boat on the surface of the water in addition to their buoyant functions,

which latter, considering their particular disposition, tend to maintain the boat in upright position in connection with a heavy keel 51.

The upwardly projecting portions 50 just above referred to are provided with apertures 52 adjacent the external surface of the deck 11 so as to drain any water inclosed in Athe space between the side portions 50 either iieA ter will be trapped within the cylinder 12 of the lifeboat externally of its hatch or cover 9.3, and in order -that this water may be released before the hatch o r cover is opened upon the surface of the water, the flange 13 receives one end of a pipe 53 asbest seen in Fig. 3. the opposite end of which is threaded through the cyliiulerl?J to communicate with the exterior thereof adjacent' the packing ring 17. Thus the major portion of pipe 53 projects within the hold space of the lifeboat which extends to the flange 13 and the cover 23, and the, pipe 53 being provided with a valve 54 which is normally closed. the latter may be opened previous to the removal of the hatch or cover Q3 and the water from within the cylinder 12 may be allowed to drain out.

lt is obvious from the f'oi'eggoiirer that my invention provides a lifeboat which may be used to great advantage in the saving of life and property in case the engine of a submarine become disabled beyond repair while submerged, as long as t'he submarine is not filled with water or its crew unconscious, as well as one which will permit transfer of the crew fran the submarine to the'lifeboat without getting water into either Athe submarine or the lifeboat. It is furthermore obvious that my invention may be utilized to great advantage in view of the ready and quick detachment thereof from the submarine and rise to the Surface in perfect safety and from various depths as well as its adaptability to the carrying of hawsers and other connections fromthe submarine to the surface so that the former maythereafter be readily located and raised where it is disabled without total destruction.

it is furthermore obvious that my invention provides a. life boat of the present character which is practically unsinkable unless totally destroyed and which may be built in various sizes and Autilized in various ways in connection with submarines as well as with varieties of particular fittings beyond those described and common to various other types of surfaceboats.

I claim 1t The combination withja submarine, of a lifeboat inverted and detachably secured thereon, said lifeboat and submarine having telescoping tubular extensions projecting therefrom and providing for communication therebetween, each ofsaid tubular extensions being provided with a packing ring at its inner end to receive the-outer end of the opposite extension, and each being' provided with an inwardly projectimgflange having an annular rib around its inner edge, a hatch or cover for each of the extensions provided with a packing; Yring to receive the rib of its respective flange, and securing means at the inner-Land outer sides of each` of said flanges fo r engagement with the `jocting annular flange having an annular rib around its inner edge, and each flange havingexternal and internal brackets. a hatch or cover arranged to close against the rib of each of said cylinder flanges, and

means supported by the said brackets for engagement with portions of the hatch or cover lat both the inner and outer sides thereof.

'3. The combination with a submarine, Aof

a lifeboat inverted and detachably secured thereon, said lifeboat and submarine havingrtelescopimt,r cylinders iii water tight relation establishing communication between the lifeboat and the submarine, each of said cylinders beinev provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange having` an annular rib around its 'inner edge, and each flange having external and internal brackets, a'

hatch or cover arranged to close against the rib of each of said cylinder fianges and 9 means movably connected to the said brackets and 'shiftable with respect to the hatch or cover for clamping' engagement with portionsI thereof at both the inner and outer sides thereof.

it. The combination with a submarine, of a lifeboat inverted and detacbably secured thereon, said lifeboat" and submarine having telescoping cylinders in water tight relation establishingcommunication between the' lifeboat and the submarine, cach of Said cylinders beingprovided with an inwardly projecting' annular flange hafing an annular rib'ardund its inner edge, and each flange having external and internal brackets, a hatch or cover arranged to close against the rib of each of said cylinder flanges, angular bolts swiveled in connection with the said brackets of the flanges at the inner and outer sides thereof, and clamping screws threaded through the free ends`| of said bolts for engagement. with portions of the hatches or covers at the inner and outersides of the latter. c

5. A`lifeboat vof the character described having air tight bulkheads in the forward and rear parts thereof and havingr a deelt extendingbetween the said bulkheads forniing a closed hold,jand casings extending above the deck and forming air compartments for the purpose described.

6. The combination with a submarine, of a lifeboat secured thereon in inverted position and detachable therefrom. said lifebfat 'and submarine havin telesco infl en- P s IY gaged cylinders establishing communication therebetween, a cover or hatch for each of the said cylindrlcal extensions to close the samcand means carried by the said cylindrical extension' of the lifeboat and controlled from a point inwardly beyond the cover thereof to drain Water from the space above the cover when the lifeboat is re-` leased from thel submarine and is righted.

7. The combination Witha submarine, of a lifeboat secured thereon in inverted 'position and detachable therefrom, said lifeboat and submarine having telescopingly engaged cylinders establishing communication there between, a cover or hatch for each of the said cylindrical extensions to close the same and means carried by the said cylindrical extension of the lifeboat and controlled from a point beyond the cover thereof to drain water from the space above the cover when the lifeboat is released from the submarine and is righted, said means including a pipe,

one end of Which communicates with ,the,-

space Within the cylindrical extension above the cover and the other ofWhich communi` Cates through the Wall of the cylinder, the

pipe having a valve located in the cylinder inwardly beyond the cover.

8. A lifeboat of the character described having a closed deck forming a hold belovv the same, said boat being provided Withgerid upon' the upper. surface of the said deck, .said last named casings extending trans air compartments and with casings disposed fio versely across the deck and forming seats.

sT. CLAIR LEWARK.

Witnesses:

EDWARm 1,Mmraem3 JOHN PbtMA. 

